As a busy working mum and entrepreneur, I would say I’m pretty skilled at juggling competing priorities: running my own virtual business, managing family life, and navigating a diverse career across construction, IT, and PR. But nothing quite prepared me for the challenges brought on by hearing loss—a silent obstacle that crept into my life and quietly reshaped how I communicated and connected with the world around me.
While hearing loss isn’t something you can see, it touches everything. For years I didn’t realise how much I was compensating for it. Meetings became overwhelming puzzles of lip-reading and guesswork, while networking events left me drained as I tried to piece together conversations in noisy, crowded rooms.
Virtual meetings were equally frustrating. I struggled when colleagues joined calls without their cameras on – they became voices in a void, and I relied heavily on online transcription tools just to keep up. AI became both my lifeline and my crutch – a temporary solution to mask my growing sensory deprivation.
The turning point
Two years ago, I booked my first hearing test with a local clinic, more out of curiosity than necessity. I’d heard that menopausal women should check their hearing, and at 50-something, it seemed like a sensible health check to add to my list. The results showed I had some hearing loss, but it wasn’t in the aidable range, so I didn’t take further action and continued my struggles in silence.
That moment came earlier this year when I hit a breaking point. Weekly networking events—a cornerstone of my professional life — had become unbearable. Standing in rooms with over 100 people, the wall of noise was overwhelming. The effort of deciphering conversations, smiling through missed words, and trying to stay engaged left me emotionally and physically drained. My usual calm, professional demeanour crumbled, and for the first time, I felt truly out of my depth.
I realised I needed to seek a secondary opinion. My reliance on technology had become a band-aid, not a solution. I needed to face my hearing challenges head-on.
"It felt like discovering a cheat code to unlock a whole new world."
Booking a hearing test with Audika felt like natural progression. The moment I walked through the door, all my worries disappeared. The team didn’t just run tests—they genuinely listened.
When I began experiencing clearer hearing, the transformation was indescribable. It felt like discovering a cheat code to unlock a whole new world. Suddenly, I could command conversations with ease, take hands free calls seamlessly during commutes, and enjoy social events I once dreaded. Even simple pleasures, like listening to podcasts, became moments of joy – I could close my eyes and let the words flow over me effortlessly.
But what surprised me the most was the impact on my confidence and multitasking skills. I hadn’t realised how much energy I’d spent compensating for my hearing loss – or how much it had been holding me back. Now, I feel more connected, more present, and more self-assured than ever.
In sharing my story, I aim to empower other women in business facing similar challenges to embrace their journeys openly and seek help without hesitation. Our experiences may be personal, but they resonate universally. With support and understanding, we can break down barriers and thrive.
For more Unheard Stories, visit audika.com/unheard-stories
